Tar sands crude coming to Quebec: get informed

Posted 04 Feb 2013

First there was Enbridge, now there is TransCanada. The risk is greater, but so are our chances of winning.

In the fall of 2012 Enbridge filed an application with the National Energy Board (NEB) to reverse the flow of its Line 9B pipeline and use it carry crude oil from the tar sands to Montreal. In response, we launched the Tar sands toolkit, which includes a map of Line 9 indicating all the wetland crossings, drinking water wells and First Nations communities along its route. Our toolkit also gives you advice on how to make your voice heard, by helping you connect with groups active in your area.

Then in the summer of 2013, TransCanada, the company behind the controversial Keystone XL pipeline project, revealed its intention to go ahead with its Energy East pipeline project, which would carry crude oil – some of it from the tar sands – from Alberta and Saskatchewan to Eastern Canada. This project, which includes a plan to convert an existing natural gas pipeline between Alberta and Ontario and to build a new pipeline from Cornwall, Ontario to Saint John, New Brunswick, would carry 1.1 million barrels per day through nine regions of Quebec.

To raise awareness about the Energy East pipeline project, Equiterre's Steven Guilbeault and AQLPA (a Quebec association against air pollution) are holding a series of information sessions that are open to the public.

Next session : Quebec City, October 9, 2013 (more details to come!)

TransCanada is also holding its own information sessions this fall. We encourage you to go and ask questions (all links in French only):